Automobile lighting control system switch



March 16, 1954 R. STEVENSON AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM SWITCH 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1950 v ulll A W 0 y 0 A/farneJ/J.

March 16, 1954 R. STEVENSON AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM SWITCH 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1950 INVENTOR. Rabi/f Z. JIM 05 00 M h1954 R. 1.. STEVENSON AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM SWITCH FiledJuly 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l5 w i w\\ INVEN TOR. Paar/f Z. J/Mf/ZfdflBY Patented Mar. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE AUTOMOBILELIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM SWITCH Robert L. Stevenson, Overland Park, Kans.

Application July 19, 1950, Serial No. 174,597

2 Claims. (01. 200-4) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in automobile lighting systems, and relates particularly toa system for controlling the external lights of an automobile.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an automobilelighting system wherein a single control handle controls the parkinglights, driving lights and turn indicator lights.

Another object is the provision, in an automobile lighting circuitincluding headlights, a pair of front parking lights, and a pair of taillights, of control means operable by a single handle to turn said lightsoff, to turn on the parking and tail lights, or to turn on the headlights and tail lights, and also to cause said parking lights and taillights to blink selectively and thus to act as turn indicating lights.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efiiciency anddependability of operation; and adaptability for usein various otherlighting circuits.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appearin the course of the specification, reference will be had to thedrawing, wherein: a

Figure 1 is a plan view of the electric switch comprising the centralfeature of this invention, showing the control handle in the offposition in solid lines and in the positions for actuating the turnindicating lights in dotted lines.

' Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is a front elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1, showing theswitch in the open position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the switch as shown in Fig. 4, with the coverremoved.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 4, showing a faceview of the upper contact plate.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 4 showing aface view of the lower contact plate.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig.5.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line IXIX of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the switch positioned toturn on the parking lights.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the switch positioned toturn on the driving lights, and to indicate a left turn.

Fig. 12 is a partially schematic diagram of the entire electricalcircuit, includin a lay-out view of the control switch.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the severalviews, and the numeral 2 applies to a control switch device including ahousing 4 made of an insulating material such as a suitable plastic andcomprising a shallow rectangular box having a cover E5, also formed ofan insulating material, attached thereto by any suitable means such asscrews 8. The inner surface of said cover and the inner surface of thebottom Iii of the housing respectively form upper andlower contactplates, contact members being set therein as hereinafter described.

Mounted between said contact plates, and parallel thereto, is a switchplate l2 formed of an insulating material and having a substantiallyrectangular form. Fixed to said switch plate by rivets I4 is a strip ofresilient conducting material l6 formed to present resilient arms I 8and 20 extendin respectively upwardly and downwardly from said switchplate. Adjacent its free end, arm I8 is formed to present an upwardlyextending contact boss 22, and arm 20 is correspondingly formed topresent a downwardly extending contact boss 24. Said contact bosses aredisposed in a line at right angles to plate 12, and are urged outwardlyfrom said plate by the resilience of strip I6 to engage correspondingrecesses 26 and 28 formed respectively in cover 6 and bottom I'll. Asbest shown in Figs. 6 and 7, said recesses are identical, and eachcomprises three circular recesses 30, 32, and 34 arranged in linelongitudinally of the housing and connected by a slot 36 somewhatnarrower than the diameter of the circular recesses.

Thus it is apparent that switch plate I2 is supported between cover 6and bottom ill for pivotal movement about an axis extending throughcontact bosses 22 and 24, and also may be moved longitudinally in thehousing to any of three positions in which said bosses engage circularrecesses 30, 32, and 34. The bosses are guided by slot 36 as they movebetween the circular recesses, and snap outwardly to act as detents toselectively engage said circular recesses to hold the switch platereleaseably in any of its three longitudinal positions. Said switchplate may be manually manipulated to provide either longitudinal orpivotal movement, by means of an extension thereof forming an operatinghandle 38. Said handle extends outwardly from the housing through a slot40 formed in the end wall of the housing. The dimensions of switch plateI2 are sufficiently less than the internal dimensions of the housing topermit the above described pivotal and longitudinal movement.

Attached to switch plate I2, respectively adjacent each of the fourcorners thereof, are four resilient contact strips 42, M, 45, and 4Bsimilar to contact strip I6, being attached to said switch plates byrivets 5B and, as best shown in Fig. 8, each being formed to present apair of resilient arms 52 extending respectively upwardly and downwardlyfrom said switch plate, and each of said arms being formed to present anoutwardly extending contact boss 54. The bosses 54 of each contact striplie in a line perpendicular to plate I2, and are urged resilientlyoutwardly to rest in sliding contact with cover 6 and bottom Ill.

Fig. 6 shows the contacts carried by cover 6. A pair of straightparallel contact strips 56 and 58 are recessed and lie flush with theinner surface of cover 6. Said contact strips are arrangedlongitudinally of the housing, and spaced apart a distance somewhatgreater than the width of switch plate I2. A contact strip 66 having theform of an annular segment is arranged between corresponding endportions of strips 55 and 58, and is approximately concentric with thecentral recess 26 of cover 6. Another contact strip 62 also having theform of an annular segment, but somewhat wider than strip 60, isarranged between the opposite corresponding end portions of strips 56and 58, and is substantially concentric with recess 25. All of contactstrips 56, 56, 60, and 62 are recessed in and lie flush with the innersurface of cover 6, and are securely fixed therein by any suitablemeans. A rivet 64 is fixed in said cover and'the head thereof isdisposed in the base of circular portion 34 of recess 26, so as tubecontacted by boss 22 of contact strip I6 when the switch plate I2 ismoved to position said boss in portion 34 of the recess.

Fig. 7 shows the contact members fixed in bottom II) of the housing,said contact members being recessed in to lie flush with the innersurface of said bottom Contact strip 66 comprises an annular section 68lying directly beneath and corresponding to contact strip 69 in thecover, though not extending to the longitudinalcenter line of theswitch, and a straight section III lying directly beneath andcorresponding to contact strip 58 in the cover. Contact strip I2comprises an annular section I4 lyingdirectly beneath and correspondingto contact strip 60 in the cover, and a straight section 16 Contactstrip I8 comprises an annular section 80 lying directly beneath andcorresponding to contact strip 62 in the cover, though not extending tothe longitudinal centerline of the switch, and a straight section 82lying directly beneath and corresponding to contact strip 58 in thecover. Contact strip 84 comprises an annular section 86 lying directlybeneath and corresponding to contact strip 62 in the cover, and astraight section 86 lying directly beneath and corresponding to contactstrip 56 in the cover. A rivet SE! is fixed in bottom ID of the housing,the head of said rivet being disposed in the base of circular portion 34of central recess 28 of housing bottom ID, so as to be engaged by boss'24 of contact strip I6 whenever switch plate I2is moved to cause saidbos to engage recess 34.

Referring to the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 12, it will be noted thatannular contact strips 66 and 62 in the cover, and rivet 36 in thecover, are connected to the automobile battery 92 by wire 94, and thatcontact strips 56 and 58 of the 4 cover are connected to the batterythrough wire 94, wire 96, blinker switch 98, and wires I00. The otherterminal of the battery is grounded by wire I92. Blinker switch 98 maybe of any suitable construction, but as shown comprises a bimetallicswitch member I04 normally engaging contact I06 to close the switch whennot heated. A heating coil I08 surrounds the switch member, and isconnected in parallel "therewith; When current is fed to the switchmember I64, causing it to deform and move away from contact I06, therebyopening the switch. Thereupon the switch member cools and again engagescontact IUG to re-establish the circuit, and the cycle is repeated.

Contact strip 66 in the housing bottom is connected to the right parkinglamp III] of the automobile by wire I I2, the other terminal of saidlamp being grounded by wire H4. Contact strip 72 is connected with theleft parking lamp II6 of the automobile by wire H8, the other terminalof said la'mp being grounded by wire I20 Contact strip I8 is connectedto the left tail lamp I22 of the automobile by wire I24, the other terminal of said lamp being grounded by wire I26. A left indicator lamp I28has its one terminal connected to wire I24 by wire I30 and its otherterminal grounded by wire I32. Contact strip 84 is connected to theright tail lamp I34 by wire I36, the other terminal of said lamp beinggrounded by wire I38. A right indicator lamp I40 has its one terminalconnected to wire I86 by wire I42, and its other terminal grounded bywire I;

Each of the head lamps I46 and I48 of the automobile is equipped with abright filament I58 and a dim filament I52. One terminal of eachfilament I50 is connected by wires I54 with one of the fixed contactsI56 of a double-throw switch I56. One terminal of each of the file-1ments I52 is connected by wires I63 to the other fixed contact I62 ofswitch I58. The second terminal of each of filaments I50 and I52 isgrounded as at I64 and I66. The movable pole I68 of switch I58 isconnected by wire IIIlv to rivet 60. By moving pole I68 to engage eithercontact I58 or I62, it is apparent that either the bright flla ments I50or the dim filaments I52 may be placed in use. Switch I56, commonlyknown as a dimmer switch, is usually foot-operated and positioned forconvenient operation by the driver of the automobile. i

The operation of the systemic substantially as follows: The controlswitch 2 and the indi cator lamps I28 and I40 are mounted on thedashboard, steering column, or other portion or the automobileconveniently accessible-to the, driven When operating handle 38 ispulled outwardly from housing 4, and positioned parallel with thelongitudinal axis or the switch, the parts will have the relativepositions shown in Figs; 4, 5, 8, and 9, bosses 22 and 24 centralccntactstrip I6 of switch plate I2 resting in circular portions 30 of therecesses 26 and 28 of the cov'r'land housing bottom I0. In thisposition-it is evident that none of the automobile lights'will belighted, since contact strip I6 does not con tact rivets 64 and 90, andsince'the switch plate contact strips 42, 44, 46, and 68 do not contact:

any of the contact strips of thehousingl This is the normal position ofthe switch for daylight driving. When it is desired to signal for a leftturn, handle 38 is 1:1. oted to the left, as shown in dotted lines inFig. l. Contact-strip 44 of switch plate I2 is thereby caused toestablish contact between contact strip 58 carried by the cover andstraight portion I6 of contact strip 12 carried by bottom I8, therebyestablishing a circuit from battery 92 through wires 94 and 96, blinkerswitch 98, wire I88, contact strips 56, 44, and I2, and wire Us to leftfront parking light IIB,

whereby said light will be caused to blink regu larly. Simultaneouslycontact strip 48 of the switch plate will establish contact betweencontact strip 58 of the cover and straight portion 82 strips 42 and 48of the switch plate will not engage any of the contact strips carried bythe housing, and hence the right front parking light and the right taillight and indicator lamp will remain oil.

When it is desired to signal for a right turn, handle 38 is pivoted tothe right, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, whereupon switch platecontact strips 42 engages contact strip 56 to establish a circuit toright front parking light III! through wire H2, and contact strip 48engages contact strip 84 to establish a circuit to right tail light I34and right indicator lamp I48 through wires I36 and I42. It is apparentthat when switch plate is pulled outwardly to bring bosses 22 and 24into engagement with recesses 38, the parking and tail lights can onlybe turned on blinker, since the switch plate contact strips 42, 44, 48,and 48 through which connections are made to said lamps, can engage onlycontact strips 56 and 58 in the cover, said last named contact stripsdrawing current from the battery through blinker switch 98.

When it is desired to turn on the parking lights and tail lights, ascommonly used when parking the automobile and in twilight driving,handle 38 is pushed manually inwardly until bosses 22 and 24 of switchplate contact strip I6 engage the central circular portions 32 of therecesses 25 and 28 formed in cover 6 and bottom ID. The parts then havethe position shown in Fig. 10. Switch plate contact strips 42 and 44establish contact between cover contact strip 68 and the annularportions 88 and I4 of bottom contact strips 83 and I2. Thus currentflows from battery 92 through wire 84, contact strips I58, 86, and 'I2,and wires H2 and H8 to parking lamps H8 and H6. Likewise, switch platecontact strips 46 and 48 connect cover contact strip 82 with the annularportions 80 and 86 of bottom contact strips I8 and 84 thereby providingcurrent to tail lights I22 and I34 through wires I24 and I38 and toindicator lamps I28 and I40 through wires I30 and I42. All of theparking lights, tail lights, and indicator lights burn steadily, sinceblinker switch 98 is not in the circuit.

When it is desired to turn the driving lights on, handle 33 is pushedinwardly until bosses 22 and 24 of the switch plate contact strip I6engage the circular portions 34 of the recesses 26 and 28. Said bossesthus contact the heads of rivets 84 and 98, establishing a circuit frombattery 92 through wire 94, rivet 64, contact strip I6, rivet 90, wireI18, switch I58 and thence through either wire I54 or wire I68 to headlamp filaments I53 or I52. As indicated in Fig. 11, switch plate contactstrips remain in engagement with cover contact strip 62 and the annu larportions of bottoms contact strips I8 and 84, since these contact stripsare relatively broad in a direction longitudinal to the switch. The taillights and indicator lights thus remain lighted. However, switch platecontact strips 42 and 44 pass out of engagement with cover contact strip68 and the annular portions of bottom contact strips 66 and '32, sincesaid last named strips are relatively narrow in a direction longitudinalto the switch. The front parkin lights are thus normally not lightedduring night driving. However, it is apparent that when the switch plateis positioned longitudinally for either parking or night driving lights,the front parking lights and the tail lights may be caused to blink onand off to signal turns, simply by pivoting handle 38 to the left orright as described above. Whenever the handle is pivoted in eitherdirection, the switch plate contact strips corresponding to either theleft or right lights will engage the contact strips 55 and 58, and thusdraw current through the blinker switch. The contact strips 58 and 58,and the corresponding portions of contact strips 68, "I2, I8, and 84,are sufficiently long to engage the switch plate strip whenever saidswitch plate is pivoted, regardless of the longitudinal position of saidswitch plate. The indicator lamps I28 and I48 serve to indicate bothwhether any of the external lights of the automobile are lighted, andthe direction for which a turn is being signaled.

The switch would of course function in the same manner if the contactstrips in the bottom I0 of the housing were not shaped simie larly tothe contact strips in the cover, but were such as to engage the switchplate contact strips at all times. Or the connections to the load sideof the switch plate could be permanent and fixed, if flexible wires wereused. However, the arrangement shown has the advantage of providing adouble break in the circuit at each connection, thereby protectingagainst damage due to possible short circuiting.

The principal feature of this invention is the inclusion in a singlelever or switch the complete control of all of the external lights of anautomobile, including parking, night driving, and turn signallinglights. The device is also simple, economical, and efficient, and theswitch 2 forming the central feature thereof may be installed in thelighting system of most present automobiles without extensive orexpensive rewiring.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparentthat many minor changes of construction and operation could be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A control switch comprising a housing, a planar rectangular switchplate carried by said housing for longitudinal movement and for pivotalmovement about a central axis at right angles to its plane, thelongitudinal axes of said housing and said switch plate normally beingparallel, a contact strip carried by said switch plate at each of thefour corners thereof, a pair of annular segmental contact strips carriedby said housing in a plane parallel to said switch plate, said annularcontact strips being approximately concentric with and disposed onopposite sides of the pivotal axis of said switch plate, said annularcontact strips also being disposed within the normal transverse span ofsaid switch plate and respectively adjacent the opposite ends thereof.the annular contact strip corresponding to one end of the switch platebeing wider than the other annular strip whereby longitudinal movementof said switch plate will selectively move said switch plate contactstrips into engagement with both of said annular strips or only thewider one, and a pair of straight contact strips carried by said housingrespectively at Opposite sides of the normal transverse span of saidswitch plate, whereby pivotal movement of said switch plate willselectively move diagonally opposite pairs of switch plate contactstrips into engagement with said straight contact strips.

2. A control switch comprising a housing having parallel spaced apartplanar contact plates, a planar rectangular switch plate disposedbetween and parallel to said contact plates, a conducting member fixedto said switch plate and forming resilient arms projecting centrallyfrom opposite sides thereof, said arms having bosses at the free endsthereof engaging longitudinally elongated recesses formed therefor insaid contact plates, whereby said switch plate is supported forlongitudinal movement and pivotal movement about an axis at right anglesthereto, a contact member carried by the first of said contact plates inthe recess thereof and adapted to be engaged by the corresponding arm atone position in the longitudinal movement of said switch plate, acontactmember carried in a corresponding position in the recess of thesecond oi said contact plates and adapted to be contacted by thecorresponding arm, four electrically independent contact members carriedby said switch plate respectively at the corners thereof. four contactstrips carried by said first contact plate, and being respectivelyengageable byaaid switch plate contact members, a first pair ofelectrically independent contact strips carried by said second contactplate respectively at opposite ends thereof, each of said last namedpair of strips being engageable by the switch plate contact members atthe corresponding end of the switch plate, said corner contact membersof said switch plate being adapted by longitudinal movement of saidswitch plate to engage neither, one, or both of said first set ofstrips, and asecond pair of electrically independent contact stripscarried by said second contact plate and disposed parallel to the normalposition of said switch plate and transversely outwardly from thelongitudinal edges thereof, whereby when said switch plate is pivoted ineither direction, a pair of diagonally opposite contact members of saidswitch plate will contact said second pair of strips respectively.

ROBERT L. STEVENSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,717,629 Sawyer June 8. 1919 2,086,959 Rom July 13, 19372,122,508 Bell July 5, 1938 2,186,911 Erickson Jan. 9, 1940 2,203,502Michel June 4, 1940 2,305,962 Gould Dec. 22, 1942 2,514,604 Hollins July11. 1950

